'Made snana' goes on unchecked, despite Supreme Court ban

The controversial ‘made snana’ and ‘ede snana’ rituals were performed in the temple town on Thursday on the occasion of Champa Shashti.

The ‘made snana’ was performed at the Krishna Mutt as well as at temples in Sagri, Tangodu and Harithodu. The ‘ede snana’ was performed at the Muchlagodu Subramanya temple at Kukkikatte. It is believed that the ritual cures people of ailments. This despite the fact that ‘made snana’- that involves devotees rolling over plantain leaves with food left over by Brahmins - has been banned by the Supreme Court.

The ‘ede snana’ is an alternative suggested by Pejawar Mutt seer Vishweshateertha Swami, following outrage against the ‘made snana’ ritual. It involves devotees rolling over plantain leaves on which the food offerings to the deity (prasadam) are kept. However, the Tulu-speaking populace in the district has a high preference for ‘made snana’.

‘Made snana’ began at the Krishna Mutt following the mass feeding. As many as 19 devotees took part in the ritual, including six to seven women. The ritual took place in front of the Subramanya shrine in the backyard of the temple.

The devotees had a dip in the temple pond ‘Madhwa Sarovara,’ before offering prayers to Lord Subramanya. They had another dip in the holy pond after the ritual.Mutt scholar Madhwesha Acharya said that the ritual was being performed for the past 500 years, since the period of saint Vadiraja. “The devotees come on their own free will to perform the ritual. This is not forced on them,” he said.

K Srinivas Acharya, a shopkeeper from Kinnimulki, said that he was taking part in the ritual for the past 10-12 years and that he would continue to do so. He attributed his good health to the ritual.

At the Muchlagodu Subramanya temple, devotees rolled on 14 plantation leaves (where the ‘prasadam’ of the Lord was neatly arranged) as part of the ‘ede snana’ ritual.

There were 11 devotees, including five women, for the ritual. The ‘ede snana’ ritual is also sacred and is equivalent to ‘made snana’, said temple official Raghavendra Tantri.

Vimala, a devotee from Manchikere, welcomed the change. She said that she felt more satisfied after performing ‘ede snana,’ than on earlier occasions.

Another devotee Bharati from Kukkikatte - who is performing ‘made snana’ for the past 22 years - seemed unhappy with ‘ede snana’. She said if devotees wish to perform ‘made snana,’ there should be no objection. Bharathi blamed the media for “focusing too much” on the issue.

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